She created the Tesla design (left) on her computer (she works mostly in Photoshop) and posted it to her blog. She got so much positive feedback, she says, that she started selling items featuring the design on her Etsy site. Soon she was adding more scientists, and science-related images to her portfolio.

With no science background, working on the designs "opened up a whole new world for me," Lee says. "For each design I study the person, to figure out an image that represents what they're known for. Now I love to research and learn about these other lives," she says.

After researching the astronomers and cosmologists that make up her "Cosmic Pioneers" series, Lee said it was a "natural step" to move towards learning about the solar system and create designs based on the planets. You can see more of her work in the slideshow above and at her website.